Thermostatic regulator



Patented July 22,

` Nathan Morris, Silver American Instrument 8pring,Md.,alslgnorto "MIL, partnership poaed'fsnm E:

a com o `Reynoldsanlilleopolill'ir'eelnaxr Application lla! 5, 1944, Serial No. 534,315

My mventio'n relates broadly to thermoregulators and more particularly to a construction of precision adjustment means for thermoregulators. One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction of thermorellator having precii sion adjustment means for accurately setting the thermoregulator for controlling an electric circuit at an exact predetermined temperature.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of spring control device for selectively fixing the .position i of tbe adjustable head of a thermoresulator for control of an electric circuit at a predetermined temperature.

Other and further objects of my invention re. side in the construction of precision adjustment means for thermoregulators as lset forth vmorel fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings. in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the thermoregulator of my invention showing the orientatable head carried thereby; F18. 2 is a top lplan view of the orientatable head in position on the thermoregulator; F1853 is an'enlarged side elevational view of the orientatable head with parts broken away and illustrated in longitudinal section for showing the coaction of the parts; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3: Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line l-l of Fig. 4 and showing the securing means for the orientatable head in released position so that the orientatable head may be angularly shifted to a selected position: Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to the view illustrated in Fis. 5 but showing the securing means for the orientatable head set in position for maintaining the orientatable head in a predetermined selected position; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the resilient key that I employ in the structure of my invention.

My invention is directed to a construction of thermoregulator in which a bimetallic spiral element is employed to produce an axial displacement of a contact member movable between a pair of selectively adjustable contacts. The selectively adjustable contacts are carried by a casing or head of insulation material whichis supported in a frame and capable of angular adjustment thereof. The frame also provides mounting means for the spiral thermosensitive member that controls the displacement of the contact member ybetween the pair of adjustable contacts. The casing which is supported by the frame has an annular groove therein into which 7 Claims. 2ML-138) a fiat' spring member fastened to the frame structure extends as a key or tongue.' The spring member secured in the frame extends substantially tangent to the interior surface of the annular groove in the casing and forms an adjustable key which may be rendered effective or ineffective to secure the casing in fixed position or4 allow the casing to be angularly shifted to a selected position and set therein so that the mov'- able contact member may meet and establish a connection with either of the adjustable contact'- members at a .predetermined temperature aetting. 'An index device is carried by the frame and a calibrated scale is carried bythe casing coacting with the index device whereby the proper angular settings, termined. 4

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 'i designates the frame of the thermoregulator having-a tubular projection 2 thereon which suDPOrts the tubular member I through which the actuating rod 4 extends vto the end of the spirally arranged bimetal thermosensitive element l. The end of the actuating rod l connects to the bimetal thermosensitive element I at the end position I. The actuating rod 4 projects through the frame of the thermoregulator and carries la bushing `l having a pin l thereon which forms a retaining means for the end of the spi,- ral safety spring e which is wrapped around the actuating rod l and terminates in a radial extension represented at il substantially parallel to the radial extension li at the'opposite end thereof. The two extreme ends I0 and il of the tension spring l' terminate on opposite sides of the memberl I2 which is carried by the insulated v disc Il that is ilo'atingly carried by actuating rod t. That is, actuating rod l passes loosely through insulated disc il so that insulated disc il is indirectly operated by actuating rod I through the inner position of tension spring I. The insulated discv Il is cut oi! substantially on a chord adjacent one edge thereof and serves as a supportfor the contact carrier strip il. Contact carrier strip il carries contacts il and i'l on opposite faces of the end thereof which may be displaced between adjustable contacts Il and il. Adjustable contacts il and il are carried by adjusting screws Il andll which are adjustable from the exterior of the angularly adjustable casing I! of molded or plastic material. Knurled finger grips 20a and 2id are provided on the exterior ends oi' adjusting screws 2l and 2| to permit adjustment of the spacial relation of the adjustablecontacts il and Il to a precise spacial relation. Electrical forthecasingmaybede connection is established with the screw threads Ila and Isa of the adjustable contacts Il and Il by means of brush members 23 and 24 connected with binding posts 25 and 28 carried by casing 22. Casing 22 also carries a binding post 21 which is connected through the spiral hair spring 2l arranged interiorly of casing 22 to the contact carrying member I5, thereby establishing electrical connection with the movable contacts Il and I1.

The frame of the thermoregulator carries an index pointer 2s which coacts with the calibrated scale l0 carried by the casing 22. The casing 22 is angularly shiftable within the socket-like sup-` port in frame I formed by the projecting cylindrical portion 3i of frame I. It will be seen that the casing 22 nts into the projecting cylindrical portion 3| of frame I and is rotatable therein.

The casing 22 is provided with an annular groove 22a molded therein in a position which is substantially central of a skirt portion I2 adjacent the base of the casing. The annular groove 22a is molded in the casing 22 and serves as an interlock between the orientatable casing and the frame I through the interposition of the key member Il. The member 3l is an L-shaped nat resilient strip having a width somewhat less than the width of the annular groove 22a and having the end portion thereof extending through a vertical slot I4 formed in the projecting cylindrical portion 3i of frame I. The strip It is formed from resilient material and normally tends to extend approximately tangent to the interior surface of the annular groove 22a` Resilient strip 8l normally has the opposite end 33a thereof resting in contact with the interior surface of the wall of the projecting cylindrical portion lI of frame I in which position the casing 22 is free to be oriented for moving the contacts Il and Il into predetermined spacial relation with the contacts Il and I1 as determined by the calibrated scale 30 with reference to the index pointer 2l.

When the casing 22 has been oriented to a selected position, the adjusting screw Il is advanced through the screw threaded aperture ll in the projecting cylindrical portion 2| of the frame I with the end 31 of the screw bearing against the flat surface of strip 2l. Screw 3l is provided with a shoulder 3l which abuts with the outside wall of the projecting cylindrical portion Il of the frame for restricting or limiting the advancement of the screw beyond a safe limit. Screw I5 is provided with a knurled finger grip 3l for moving screw 35 into locking position. As the end 31 of screw 35 bears against resilient strip 3l. the strip 3l is displaced against the interior face of annular groove 22a frictionally wiping the annular face of groove 22a and locking casing 22 in a set position. Thus by distributing the pressure from the end of the set screw through the interposition of strip 33 it is possible to obtain an interlock of great precision. Pressure of screw 2l is thus obviously distributed over a relatively large area and mutilation and wear of the inner groove wall is minimized. It is thus possible to set the position of the contacts Il and Il with respect to the path of movement of contacts Il and I1 for securing operation of the thermoregulator at an exact predetermined temperature.

The casing 22 is formed from molded plastic material which is capable of providing mounting means for the several binding posts and capable of retaining the annular groove 22 in the casing under conditions of long continued use.

While I have described my invention in oneY 10 tion a supporting frame, a thermosensitive element supported by said frame, an angularly adjustable casing supported in said frame, contact members supported by said adjustable casing. a

' contact device disposed within said adjustable casil ing and controlled by said thermosensitive element for operation with respect to the aforesaid contact members, said casing having an annular groove adjacent the base thereof, a fiat spring member carried by said frame and extending N into said groove and an adjusting screw extending in a predetermined position in said frame.

2. A thermoregulator comprising in combination a supporting frame, a thermosensitive element supported by said frame, an anguiarly adjustable casing supported in said frame. contact members supported by said adjustable casing, a

contact device disposed within said adjustable casing and controlled by said thermosensitive element for operation with respect to the aforesaid contact members, said casing having an annular groove adjacent the base thereof, a nat strip-like member extending through a slot in said frame member and into the annular groove adjacent the base of said casing and forming an interlock between said casing and said frame and means 4 carried by said frame for rendering said striplike member effective or ineffective to maintain said casing in a predetermined position with respect to said frame.

u 3. A thermoregulator comprising in combination a supporting frame, a thermosensitive element supported by said frame, an angularly adjustable casing supported in said frame, contact members supported by said adjustable casing, a

w contact device disposed within said adjustable casing and controlled by said thermosensitive element for operation with respect to the aforesaid contact members, said casing having an annular groove adjacent the base thereof, an L shaped dat u strip member having one end thereof secured in said frame and the other end thereof projecting into the annular groove adjacent the base of said casing and substantially tangential to the wall of said annular groove and means carried by said so frame for variably controlling the frictional engagement of said fiat strip member with the annular groove of said casing.

4. A thermoregulator comprising in combination a supporting frame, a thermosensitive element supported by said frame, an angularly adjustable casing supported in said frame, contact members supported by said adjustable casing, a contact device disposed within said adjustable casing and controlled by said thermosensitive ele- 70 ment for operation with respect to the aforesaid contact members, said casing having an annular groove adjacent the base thereof, a resilient strip extending between said frame and the annular groove in said casing and a screw device carried of its preferred embodiments, I realize that 'Il by said frame and engageable with said strip for 5 frctionally interlocking said casing with said frame in a. predetermined position.

5. A thermoregulator comprising in combination a supporting frame, athermosensitive element supported by said frame, an angularly adjustable casing supported in said frame, contact members supported by said adjustable casing, a, contact device disposed within said adjustable casing and controlled by said thermosensitive element for operation with respect to the aforesaid contact members, said casing having an annular groove adjacent the base thereof, a spring member positively secured to said frame and frictionally wiping the interior wall o1' the annular groove adjacent the base of said casing and an adjustable screw extending through said frame and engaging said spring member for frictionally interlocking said casing in a predetermined position in said frame.

6. A thermoregulator comprising in combination a supporting frame, a thermosensitive element supported by said frame, an orientatabl casing supported in said frame, a calibrated scale carried by said casing, an index member carried by said frame in coacting relation to said calia brated scale, contact members supported by said orientatable casing, a contact device disposed within said adjustable casing and controlled by said thermosensitive element for operation with respect to the aforesaid contact members, said casing having an annular groove adjacent the base thereof, a key member secured to said frame and extending substantially tangential into said annular groove and a screw device carried by said frame and adjustable with respect to said key member for frictionally 'interlocking said casing with respect to said trame at a predetermined position.

7. A thermoregulator comprising in combination a supporting frame, a thermosensitive element supported by said frame, an angularly adjustable casing supported in said frame, contact members supported by said adjustable casing, a contact device disposed within said adjustable casing and controlled by said thermosensitive element for operation with respect to the aforesaid contact members, said casing having an annular groove adjacent the base thereof, a spring member carried by said frame and extending into said annular groove, an adjusting screw extending through said frame and engageable with said spring member and an annular shoulder on said adjusting screw arranged to abut with the external surface of said frame for Hunting the extent of projection of said adjusting screw into said frame and restricting the movement of said spring member into said annular groove.

NATHAN MORRIS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,910,533

renseca May 23, 1933 

